Direct ester condensation catalyzed by bulky diarylammonium pentafluorobenzenesulfonates.

A protocol for ester condensation between equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids and alcohols catalyzed by bulky diarylammonium pentafluorobenzenesulfonate is described. We also present procedures for the synthesis of N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-N-mesitylammonium pentafluorobenzenesulfonate. The present ester condensation proceeds well under mild conditions even without the removal of generated water. The synthesis of N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-N-mesitylammonium pentafluorobenzenesulfonate will take approximately 5 days. The ester condensation reactions will take approximately 6 h to 3 days.